cubano

esquire magazine would have you believe that louisville has a "staid restaurant scene", but i beg to differ. granted, it's not a niche oriented market like every major metropolis in the country or a smorgasbord of chain restaurants like most small towns. i have evangelically referred everyone i know to the simple but scrumptious delights of toast (i more or less inhaled their meatball sandwich the otehr day at lunch), but i have discovered yet another mouth watering restaurant worthy of praise and repeated bites.

havana rumba is a cuban restaurant with a sultry but inviting ambiance and food that justifies its bustling crowds. you can expect white rice and black beans, fried plantains, and vegetables and meats seasoned and roasted to perfection. i started at the bar with a caipirinha, which is my new favorite drink that i cannot pronounce. it's was a potent blend of brazilian cachaca with lime and sugar. at dinner, i tried their equally strong and tart ultimate lime margarita (i know, i go to a cuban restaurant and don't get a mojito. sue me.). the margarita complimented my dinner, the vaca frita. white rice, black beans, grilled vegetables, plantains, shredded beef and a touch of lime juice was an appropriate introduction to their menu as this was my first time. the bill wasn't hefty in the least bit (around $20) and i enjoyed every bit of my meal. the service was friendly and not slow even though they were busy. places such as these a great find in what seems like an expanding palette in louisville. it's food without pretense and doesn't hurt the pocket.

trust me, havana rumba is not to be missed.

check out their menu and tell your belly to be quiet.